de ferranti



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. Z. DE FERRANTI 8: A. THOMPSON. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OURRENTS.

INVENTORS S Z, Lie Ferranii fl Z/red T/w'm asbm By {heir Attorneys WITNESSES u. o. C.

(No Model.)

I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. Z. DE FERRANTI 8: A. THOMPSON; APPARATUS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC GURRENTS.

No. 288,315. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

S R O T N E V N WITNESSES H 5: Z. ale Fer/'anii .fl/red Thom won. By the r flttornays (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S. Z. DE FERRANTI & A. THOMPSON. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC GURRENTS.

No. 288,315. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

I A. mm A mum: 5i

' I 1 AIIII NEH- 9 II I S Z. (0 Ferrel/2Z6 flifred T/oompo'o n By lheuaiflorney a N. PETERS, Puma-mhn m w. Wnslunglcn, u c

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

S. Z. DE FERRANTI & A. THOMPSON. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC GURRENTS.

NVENTORS 5. Z. cZaFarrcznZi Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

By their Attorney-s f 77107711980 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

& A. THOMPSON.

(No Model.) I

S. Z. DE FERRANTI APPARATUS FOR REGULATI No. 288,315.

' INVENTORS de 1*errantz' red T homp s'on I :1 TH-n .19 By the u fltforneys g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI, OF RICHMOND GARDENS, SHEPHERDS BUSH, AND ALFRED THOMPSON, OF -GUILDFORD PLACE, RUSSELL SQUARE, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR REGU LATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

SPECIILGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,315, dated November 13, 1883.

Application filed November 22. 1893. (No model.)

Patented in England September 517, 1882, No. 4,596; in France October 31,

1882. No. 151,836; in Gcrmanv November 9, 1882, No. 23,988,- in Belgium December 1882, No. 59,767; in Italy December 29,

1832, No.42), and in Spain January 8, 1883, 'No. 4,145.

T 60% 20. 1.0727, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, SEnAs'rLlN ZIANI DE FERRANTI, a subject of the Queen of Great 3ritain, residing at Richmond Gardens, Shepherds Bush, electrician, and ALFRED Tnonn SON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Guildt'ord llace, Russell Square, electrician, both in the county of MiddleseX, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating Electric Currents, (for which we have received Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 4,596, dated 27th September, 1882,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for regulating electric currents. For regulating an electric current where the current is produced by a dynamomachine, we transmit from the axis of the dynamo-machine, or from the motor-engine which drives it. a continuousrevolving motion in opposite directions to two wheels which are mounted loosely upon a spindle. Between the wheels, and capable of sliding upon the spindle, we place a clutch, which can be slid endwisc along the spindle, and which is drawn continuously in one direction by a spring. The spring draws the clutch against one of the wheels and locks the spindle to this wheel when no current or too weak a current is passing. Vhen the current is of suflicient strength, the clutch is drawn in the opposite direction in the following manner: The clutch is connected by a link to amovable coil acted upon by two stationary coils through which the electric current whose quantity it is desired to regulate is caused to pass. The coils are each of an oblong form, and the movable coil is mounted in such a way that it can pivot around a central axis parallel with its two longer sides. The two fixed coils are side by side, at a distance apart parallel with one another. The movable coil is of a smaller length than the fixed coils, and is at right angles to them, so that its two opposite sides may enter into the hollow spaces in the center of the two -fixed coils. The spring above men tioned draws the movable coil into a position somewhat inclined to the fixed coils. As the current increases in strength the action of the coils tends more and more to turn the movable coil in the opposite direction to that in which it is drawn by the spring, and when of sufiicicnt strength it predominates over the spring. WVhen it does so, and the movable coil approaches a position at right angles to the fixed coils, it draws the clutch away from the wheel it was previously looking to the spindle, and the spindle will then no longer be driven. A still further increase in the strength of the current moves the clutch far enough to lock the other wheel to the spindle. The spindle will then be made to revolve in the opposite direction to that in which it was revolved previously. The motion given to the spindle may becaused to vary the action of the governor upon the engine, or to vary the expansion by acting on the linlemotion, or to otherwise control the speed of the engine or it may be made to traverse to and fro a contactbar for throwing in and out resistances, or for cutting out a portion of the wire around the field-magnets of the dynamo-machine.

Figure 1 shows a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section,of a regulating apparatus constructed as above described. Figs. 3 and at illustrate and modify the arrangement of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a diagram view, showing the direction of the current through the coils I and J. Figs. 6 and 7 are diagram views, illustrating the manner in which the regulating apparatus may be used for controlling the motor arrangement of a dynamoelectric machine. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are detailed views, showing how the regulating apparatus may be applied to vary the expansion of a link-motion gear. Figs. 11 and 12 are views illustrating how the controlling apparatus may be used for throwing resistances into or out of the circuit of a dynamo-electric machine. Figs. 13, 14, and 15 are detailed views relating to organization shown in Figs.

the dynamo-machine or its motor-engine might be adopted. E is a clutch capable of sliding to and fro along the spindle, but not of turning around it. F is a lever turning on a fulcrum at F, by which the clutch can be slid A to and fro and caused to lock either wheel A or B to the spindle, according to which wheel it is made to engage with. G is a spring by which the lever is drawn in one direction. The strength of the spring can be controlled by the regulating-screwfi. H is it connecting-rod, by which the lever F can be drawn in the oppositedireetion. It is coupled to a coil, I, mounted, as shown, so that it can turn on its central longitudinal axis. The coupling of the rod to the coil is on one side of the central axis, so that when theeoil turns on its axis the rod is moved endwise. J J aretwo fixed coils at right angles to the central position of the coil I, and of larger diameter than this coil, so that the sides of the coil I may enter into the central spaces of the coils J, as shown. The current to be regulated, or a shunt-circuit of a portion of this current, is

passed through all three coils, and the apparatus then acts, as above explained, to revolve the spindle O in one or other direction, according as the current is too weak or too strong. The spindle is shown in the drawings as giving motion to a second spindle, K, which in turn gives a slower revolving motion to another spindle, L, by worm and worm-wheel gear, and the movement of this spindle may be made to control the speed of the motor-engine or otherwise control the strength of the current, as above explained.

If the'action of the swinging coil is not strong enough or sensitive enough to move the clutch, movement of the coil might be used to operate contacts to throw in or out of action -electro-magnets to draw the clutch in one or other direction. Figs. 3 and 4 show this modification of the apparatus. A B are the two bevelwheels, loose on the spindle C. D is the wheel which drives the two wheels in opposite directions, and which is itself driven from the motor-engine or dynamo-machine. E is the sliding clutch, and F the lever for moving this clutch. It is made of soft iron, and lies between the poles of two electro-magnets, M M. H is a metallic arm secured to a wooden block, H, by which the center of the swinging coil'I is filled in. The extremity of the arm H lies between two fixed metallic contact-pieces, N 0. One of these is connected by a wire with one end of the wire coils of one electr0-1nagnet, and the other with the wire 'coils of the other electro-magnet. A diagram .view of the electrical connections is shownat Fig. 5. The negative wire of the circuit is shown to be coupled to the arm H, and the positive wire to the coils of the electro-magnets M M. If the arm H is swung in one direction and comes against the contact-piece N, a current passes through thecoils of one electro-magnet M, and if it swings against the other contact-piece, O, a current passes through the coils of the other electro-magnet. The lever F will thereby be drawn by the. magnets either to the right or left, and by moving the clutch will lock either the wheel A or the wheel B to the axis 0. The diagram view, Fig. 5, also, shows the way in which the current is led through the swinging coil I andfixed coils J. WVhen no current, or too feeble a current, is passing through the circuit, the swinging coil is drawn by the spring G into such a position that the arm H rests against the contact-pin N. As the current increases the swinging coil tends to turn in the opposite direction to that in which it is drawn by the spring, and when of suificient strength overcomes the spring and moves the arm H away from the contact-pin N. The clutch E will then no longer beheld against the wheel B, and the spindle C will not be driven in either direction. A still further increase in strength of current causes the arm 11 to be brought against the contact-pin O.

The clutch will thereby be made to lock the wheel A to the spindle O, and the spindle will be driven in the opposite direction. The spindle O is, as in the apparatus shown at Figs. 1 and 2, geared by toothed wheels 0 K with a second spindle, K, which in turn, by a worm, K and worm-wheel L, gives a slower revolving motion to a third spindle, L, which is carried through the outer casing, P, of the apparatus. I u

Figs. 6 and 7 show diagram views of the way in which regulating apparatus construct: ed, as hereinbefore described, may be used for controlling the speed of the motor-engine used for driving the dynamo-electric machine,

by which the electric current to be controlled is generated. In these figures I? is part of the outer casing of the regulating apparatus. L is an arm fixed to the axis L. It is connected by a link, L, with one armof a lever, Q, which turns on a pin at Q. The opposite end of the lever Q is connected to a bearing, Q, to which a slight movement may be given. A collar at the end of an axis, R, is received into this bearing. On the axis are two disks, B, The axis R is driven continuously by bevel-pinions R from an axis, S, which is itselfi driven from the motor-engine by an end less band passing over the band-pulley S. T is an'ordinary ball-governor. Its spindle T is driven by bevel-wheels T from a spindle, U, which is itself driven from the motor-engine by an endless band passing over the band-pulley U. T is the slide of the governor, which is raised or lowered on the spindle T as the balls move outward from or approach the spindle. The movement of the slide raises or lowers one arm of a bell-crank lever, T, which turns on a pin at T". The other end of the bell-crank lever T has connected to it a rod, T, which passes to the steam stop-valve of the engine. The rod T is made in two parts, coupled together byalong nut, T, screwing onto their ends. The screwthread on one part is right-handed, and on the other part is left-handed, so that when the nut is turned the two parts are drawntogether or moved apart, and so the rod T is shortened or lengthened. On the nut is a ,band-wheel, T which, by an endless band, can be driven from a bandwheel, V, on an axis, V. Onthis axis is a disk, V which comes between the two disks R,which are revolved continuously, as before described. XV hen, by the action of the regulating apparatus, the axis L is turned in one or other direction, either one or other of the disks 1% is brought against the periphery of the disk V and so this disk is made to revolve either in one direction or the other. In this way the rod T will be either shortened or lengthened, according as the axis L is turned in one or other direction, and therefore the cut-off valve will not only be controlled by the governor in the ordinary way, but also by the action of the regulating apparatus.

Figs. 8, 9, and '10 show how the regulating apparatus may be used to vary the expansion by acting on the link-motion. In this arrangement the arm L on the axis L is connected by a link, L", with the slide-valve rod XV, which, at its end, is connected to the block X, which can be moved along the slotted arm X, which, by the action of an eccentric, is rocked to and fro in the ordinary manner. By the turning of the axis L in one or other direction the block X will be moved toward or away from the axis X of the arm X, and con sequently the amount of travel given to the slide-valve of the engine will be decreased or increased.

Figs. 11 and 12 show how the apparatus may be used for throwing resistances into or out of the electric circuit used for exciting the electro-magnets of dynamo-machines. The axis L of the regulating apparatus has upon it a bevel-wheel, L", gearing with a bevel, M, on an axis, M Projecting from this axis is a metallic arm, M. The axis and arm are, as shown, coupled to one wire of the circuit. The extremity of the arm M has jointed to it a metallic block, M, (shown full sizein Figs. 13 and 14.) M are a number of metallic plates ranged in an arc concentric with the axis M The block M slides over the faces of these blocks whenever the axis M is turned. The plates M are insulated the one from the other. One of the plates is shown in section, full size, at Fig. 15. N N N, 810., represent resistances, which, by the movement of the block Mi over the plates M, can be thrown into or out of the circuit. The terminals of the several resistances are coupled to one another and to the contact-plates M in the way shown at Fig. 11 One terminal wire of each resistance is, as shown in that figure, put into metallic communication with one of the plates M, the wire being for this purpose clamped in one of the screw-clamps h (See Fig. 15 \Vhen the block M rests against the lowest of the plates M on the left-hand side of Fig. 11, only one resistance, N, is included. If then the block 1 is raised, so as to be opposite to and in contact with the next plate, M", the resistance N is thrown into the circuit. If the block M is brought into contact with the next plate, the resistances N N N are included in the circuit. If it be brought into contact with the next plate, the resistances N N N N are included in the circuit, and so on in succession, the number of resistances thrown into circuit being always increased the farther the arm M is turned to the right. In this way the strength of current employed for exciting the electro-magnets of dyamo-machines can be increased or diminished according to the strength of electric current generated by the machine.

Figs. 16 and 17 show how'bhe regulating apparatus may be used for cutting out aportion of the wire around the field-magnets of a dynamomachine. A is part of the framing of a dynamo-machine. 13 are the cores of fieldmagnets, which project out from it. A portion only of the complete circle of magnets is shown in Fig. 17. O C are bars of metal wound around the several magnetpoles, in the manner shown. 1) are rods of insulating material interposed between the cords B and conducting-rods 0". Fr are small pegs of insulating material, for keeping the several coils of the rods 0 apart from one another. At one point of the circle of magnets the rods 0 which pass around the outer side of one of the magnetcores B, are formed with aflat surface on their exterior, as shown at Fig. 17. The bars O", which pass around the exterior of one or other of the two adjacent 1nagnet-cores, are formed with arms 0 projecting from them. The outer surface of these arms, near their extremities, are on the same plane as the flat surfaces above mentioned, and come between them. The last arm, 0, which is nearest to the frame, has secured to ittwo metallicguidebars, D. They extend some distance over the top of the bars 0 and arms 0. E" is a metallic block capable of sliding to and fro along the guide-bars D. It is also held down onto the fiat outer surfaces before mentioned on the bars O and arms C by means of a spring, F"'. G is a pin which stands up from the top of the block E". It enters a hole in the end of a screw, H". Insulating material is interposed between the pin and the screw. The screw passes through bearings 1 1' It can slide endwise in these bearings, but not turn in them. K is a nut screwed onto the screw H The IIO nut lies between the bearings 1 so that it cannot move endwise. The exterior of the nut has teeth around it, which gear with a toothed wheel, Lfon the axis L of the regulating apparatus. In this way whenever the axis L of the regulating apparatus is revolved the nut K is revolved also, and the screw H so moved endwise in its bearings and the block E moved in one or other direction over the flatsurfaces on the arms C and bars 0. If the block E is moved away from the frame A, the current will pass through fewer of the coils around the magnet-cores, as those between it and the frame are practically put out of circuit, and if it is moved towardthe frame, it will pass through more of, the coils.

The right to file other applications f or any matter disclosed herein, but not claimed or attempted to be claimed, is reserved.

Ve claim 7 1. The combination of the two oblong fixed coils J with the oblong swinging coil 1, of smaller dimensions, with its longer sides capable of playing to and fro between the two longer sides of the fixed coils, and with thespringG acting upon the swinging coil to turn it in one direction.

2. The combination of the fixed coils J, the swinging coil I, the spring G, clutch E, and wheels A and B, loose on axis 0, and both 0 driven continuously by wheel D, whereby the axis 0 can be revolved in either direction, according as the strength of current passing through the coils varies, and consequently according as the swinging coil overcomes the 5 spring or the spring overcomes the swinging coil.

3. The combination of the fixed coils J, the swinging coil I, the spring G, metallic arm H, fixed contacts N 0, electric magnets M M, clutch E, and wheels A and B, loose on axis 0 and both driven continuously by wheel D, whereby the axis 0 can be revolved in either direction epcording as the strength of current passing through the coils varies, and consequently according as the swinging coil overcomes the spring or the spring overcomes the swinging coil.

SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANT'I. ALFRED THOMPSON. Vitnesses:

JNo. DEAN,

GEO. J. B. FRANKLIN,

Both of 17 Gra'cccluwchflt, London. I 

